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U.K. to become no smoking zone

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: For millions of smokers in Britain, the moment they had been dreading drew closer on Wednesday after the Commons voted to impose a ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants, private clubs and workplaces from next year provoking accusations that the Government was trying to turn the country into a "nanny'' state.

The Government overcame deep divisions within its own ranks to pass the bill which would outlaw smoking in virtually all enclosed or substantially enclosed spaces except the four walls of one's home.

Businesses and managements which fail to enforce the ban would face huge fines. Spot fines are proposed for not displaying "no-smoking'' signs.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose absence from the Commons caused his Government to suffer a an embarrassing defeat on a crucial vote a few days ago, was conspicuously present and voted for the ban.

The passage by an expectedly large margin was a setback to those in the Cabinet who had opposed it, and wanted private clubs and some categories of pubs exempted. Anti-smoking campaigners hailed it as a boost to healthy living.

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